Interpreting the Pneumo - by Nathan Gordon

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The pneumo tracing is by far the most difficult parameter
for most examiners to interpret. As I meet examiners from
around the world, who have been taught by different
instructors, it becomes apparent that what constitutes
reaction in this tracing must be addressed.

When we consider what constitutes reaction in the pneumo
we should be identifying which reactions are indicative of
the greatest threat to the examinee's survival in this
physiological function. The greatest threat to survival in
respiration is a stoppage of breathing, or, getting less
air than normal. Therefore, reactions in the pneumo are
represented by Apnea, Suppression, and I:E Ratio
Spreading. When comparing a question from one zone with
another to determine which has the greatest pneumo
reaction we are attempting to identify which received
less air over the same amount of time. The concept
utilized by most algorithms to determine pneumo reaction
is exactly this; the shortest line over the same period
of time represents the greatest reaction.

Many examiners are erroneously being taught that
hyperventilation in one zone negates suppression in
another. I believe this stemmed from a research scientist
looking at these two opposite reactions and taking the
position that both were equal changes from standard
deviation, or the General Tracing Average (GTA).

(Please note that the example below may not render
appropriately due to the text formatting of this
newsletter. To see the original example intended by Mr.
Gordon, go to http://www.polygraphplace.com/pneumo.pdf )

_________Zone 1________Zone 2_________________________
XXXXX xxxxxxxxx XXXX
GTA Suppression Hyperventilation

Let us assume Zone 1 above represents a Relevant Question,
and Zone 2 represents a Comparison Question. One group of
examiners I spoke with, who could not understand why they
had so many "Inconclusives," would score the above example
a "0." Another group actually claimed they were taught the
greatest reaction in the pneumo was an ascending
escalation (upward staircase) in hyperventilation, and
would score this a +1. I would say that the above example
is clearly a -2, and could be considered for upgrading to
a -3. I would suggest that the researcher who came up with
the scientific deduction that these two changes of
standard deviation cancel each other out take deep breaths
for ten minutes, and then stop breathing for ten minutes
to determine whether they experience the same results.

If a person experiences fear, which we expect is
accompanied by sympathetic arousal (fight/flight), why
would they get less air, when all of the physiological
charts indicate this mechanism causes an increase in
thoracic activity? I have two possible answers. One is that
due to an increase of cardiac output the initial signal to
the brain is that there is a sudden increase in oxygen in
the body, causing an immediate homeostatic slow down of
breathing. The other possibility came from Mr. Backster in
a response to a question from me in 1979. It took me a
long time to understand his concept of "holding and
hoping."

What are our options for survival when we experience fear?
Only fight or flight? Can you name a predator animal that
would have hunted and ate primitive man that man could
have out run? How about one man could have out fought?
Since there is no predator we can out run, or out fight,
then what do you think our most basic and primitive
survival mechanism was and is? It is "holding (freezing)
and hoping!" Staying as still as possible and hoping the
faster, tougher, predator does not see us. This very
primitive and natural instinct may be the reason we slow
down or stop our breathing when under immediate threat.

We experience this "holding and hoping" phenomenon all the
time. As a child laying in the dark, you hid under the
covers when you were afraid. We tragically find young
children dead in fires hiding in closets or under beds.

Examiners must recognize that change from a "norm" unto
itself does not in itself equal reaction. Hyperventilation
and I:E Ration Contractions are changes from the norm that
offer no threat to the body. Instead, they are indicators
of relief and homeostatic compensations from reactions
occurring elsewhere.

I totally agree with what Mr. Backster has been teaching
for years: where there is relief there cannot be reaction!

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